Steam Radiator Problem
I have a steam radiator system. It works well. The problem I’m having is that one radiator keeps spitting water through the air vent. The radiator that spits is on the ground floor at the back of the house. I’ve replaced the vent and it still spits. The radiator is at an angle so it…
I have a steam radiator system. It works well. The problem I’m having is that one radiator keeps spitting water through the air vent. The radiator that spits is on the ground floor at the back of the house. I’ve replaced the vent and it still spits. The radiator is at an angle so it drains back. The vent in the basement under this radiator was replaced last year and sometimes spits water too. It seems that the trouble started when I used Black Swan boiler cleaner last year. But the boiler has been flushed many times since then. Master Plumber, are you out there? Can you solve this mystery for me?
I have an “OOOOOOLLLLLDDD” oil fired steam boiler. The Low water cutout doesn’t work properly so I keep the water feed valves off. It is a one pipe system. Last night I had heat from some radiators but not all. The burner shut off during the night, I hit the reset switch on the burner cintrol and it started but now it short cycles. I did replace the sight gauge and valves. Also the blow down valve on the bottom of the low water cut out (it broke off in my hand). This was back in November. In one of your postings you mentioned check the fire. The flame is yellow. What should I look for there? I did take out the control and clean the sensor. Didn’t help. Any help would be GREATLY appreciately.
u also want to check the vent in the attic or at the top of the line. clean it or replace it. the faster you get the air out of the whole system the faster your 3rd floor will get steam. vent it fast… and all the way.
OP here, yesterday I drained the problem radiator and lowered the PSI and changed the air vent to a very small hole. It was cold last night and the vent still spits but very little compared to before. The radiator is in the back of the building and the boiler is in the front. It’s the last radiator on the return side of the house. It is original to the house. So I’m thinking the real problem was that I had a high PSI. Thanks for all your help.
We had this problem and it was a pipe at a bad angle (tilted down and away from the boiler) below that radiator – maybe 4 feet away). As the MP said, the water collected there and was lifted into the radiator.
You might need to open a wall or two to find it.
OP here again- good point about keeping the shut off valve wide open. I’m sure you’re right, I need water to drain back too. I’m pretty sure my pressuretrol is okay, it just need the right adjustment. Thanks
If turning down the Pressuretrol to < 1lb adversely affects heat to your 3rd floor, you probably need a new pressuretrol. Or maybe you need a new (different sized) vent on 3rd floor rad? Regarding leaving the valve half open, don't do it- valves on Steam Rads need to be fully open or the system wont work properly (bang bang). Correct me if I'm wrong MP...
Op here…..Thanks Master Plumber. I’ll check it out today. I know the pressuretrol was set a little higher because we could not get heat in the 3rd floor back room. I know if I bring the setting back down I’ll be left with a cold radiator on the top floor. I’ll see about draining the 1st floor radiator first and see what I get. Do you know of anyhing else I can do to help? If I were to keep the shut off valve half open on the 1st floor radiator, would that help? Many Thanks!
I am and I…well…hope I can.
A radiator on the first floor spitting water from the air vent is likely a result of two things happening at once. I’ll bet there is water trapped in the piping somewhere very close to the connection to that radiator, and there is probably a problem with excess pressure at the boiler.
Water is being lifted into the radiator and pressure is sending it to the nearest outlet.
Make sure the pressure regulating device (called a pressuretrol) is set to its lowest setting. Your steam heating system needs less than one pound of pressure to deliver steam to all the radiators in the building. Anything more than that and you’re just burning fuel for the heck of it and probably creating lots of hissing and banging to boot.
Who needs that!